Naxalites protest comrade’s suicide in Patna jail

Patna, Dec 18: In a replay of the jailbreak in Chhattisgarh, hundreds of agitating Maoist inmates took control of the inner wing of Patna’s high-security Beur jail Tuesday, protesting against alleged ill treatment by jail authorities.

“At present, Maoist inmates have taken full control of large parts of the jail,” a district official said.

It all started when Maoist inmates attacked police personnel on duty inside the jail, forcing them to flee. The inmates freed two top Maoist leaders, including Ajay Kanu, by breaking open the iron door of the cell where they were lodged.

Kanu was the mastermind behind the Jehanabad jailbreak when around 300 inmates, including 150 Maoists, escaped in 2005. He was later arrested and lodged in Beur jail.

The Maoists also reportedly assaulted some inmates, including a legislator, who tried to pacify them.

Maoists have been staging protests inside the jail premises for the last few days after Nagina Manjhi, 40, a member of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), committed suicide Dec 14.

Manjhi was found hanging from the iron gate of the jail infirmary where he was being treated for a minor ailment.

Official sources said over 300 Maoists were lodged in Beur jail. The Maoist inmates have found support from hundreds of other inmates.

According to jail officials, there are about 2,400 inmates in Beur jail, almost more than double the capacity of the prison.

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This entry was posted on December 18, 2007 at 4:31 pm and is filed under Bihar.
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